Uncle Grump Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 All I want to thank all of the TU members who contributed to the sticky posts on pouring/fluxing, and to all of the other posts on pouring jigs - made things much safer and easier, and I knew what to expect. I had gotten some molds and lead earlier this summer, and finally got all the other stuff I needed to give things a try..... I was using lead that had been previously melted (in small ingots the size of cup-cakes), and since I could dent it w/ my thumb nail, I assumed it was soft lead (not wheel weights, etc). I got them melted, and added some parafin wax - flames and smoke - wow!! But afterwards, there was some black specs of crud on top - so it did something. But then I noticed some other crud - some a light orange/brown color, and some which was light blue - in/on the lead. I scrapped it off, got down to silver melal, and got some pouring done. Supper time came, so I shut down the camp stove, poured the remaining lead in my own cupcake tin, and went it to eat. After the eating was done, I was back out side and looking at the crud in my tin can - and it looked like lead. So firing up the stove again, I melted some more "cup-cakes", and the crud from the tin can. The tin can crud was the last to melt, and did that very slowly, and then it was back on the top again - so that was the wrong thing to do....Poured a few more jigs, and called it day. Questions: 1) The zillon $ question is what is that colored stuff? No amount of fluxing seemed to help to get rid of it.... 2) What is the best way of disposing of it? 3) Is there a rule of thumb for judging the temperature of lead? (I think I had a better temp (or warmer molds) before supper.) Many thanks.... UG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 The crud on top was "slag", and I believe the colored stuff you mentioned was also some impurity, all of the impurities float to the top and needs to be scrapped off. I use a lee pot for pouring and it has a temp control, if your mold is hot and you pours are incomplete then your lead temp is too cool and if you pour a jig and it's "soft" after you open the mold then you're probably too hot but you can usually tell when you run to hot as the slag on top will begin to burn or glow orange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reeves Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 UG, If I knew how to add a link to the thread I would have done that for you. But you need to read the thread titled "LEAD QUALITY" started by Javelin on June 29, 2008. It addresses this very issue, which I had the same understanding as Smalljaw until Sagacious stepped in and cleared it up for us, for which I thank him a zillion times over. Read that thread and you will get the idea as well as be very surprised at the results. As for temperature, I keep my pot set at around 750 degrees, that is where I am comfortable and have had relatively good success there. If pouring real big stuff you may want to increase it to compensate for the cooling as your mold fills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Eye Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 the "coloured stuff" may also be caused from over heating. even totaly pure lead will start producing a scum if it over heated which can fool you into thinking that its impurities in the lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 I poured constantly for about a 4 hour period several weeks ago, just small ball head, minnow head and pony jigs and even with fluxing and already clean lead I had some crud in my lead, but you will get some nasty looking stuff on top of your lead if it's too hot. I'm also one who pours around 750 degrees and it's always worked for me. Fatman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
